Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (2024)

  • Fried Potatoes
  • Yukon Gold Potatoes

With a light, crunchy shell thanks to a coating of fried potato starch, these deep-fried potato-skin cups make the perfect scoops for your favorite dips and spreads.

By

Daniel Gritzer

Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (1)

Daniel Gritzer

Senior Culinary Director

Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.

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Updated March 11, 2021

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Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Par-baking (or microwaving) the potatoes makes them easier to scoop and produces a more tender texture in the final cups.
  • Cutting the potatoes across their equators produces smaller, deeper cups that are perfect for scooping and filling.
  • Coating each potato cup in a slurry made from the scooped flesh creates the ultimate crispy crust, while also helping to ensure the inner flesh remains tender and moist.

Want the ultimate potato skin? In this recipe, you'll skip the classic twice-baking method in favor of deep-frying, and coat each potato skin in a potato-starch slurry, for an even more shatteringly crispy shell. Plus, by halving the potatoes through their equators instead of lengthwise, you'll get smaller and deeper cups that are absolutely perfect for filling, scooping, and eating with your fingers.

Serve these alongside the dips or spreads of your choice: hummus, baba ganoush, thick Greek yogurt or labneh, tzatziki, and more.

It’s Always Fry-Day: Crispy Potato Cups Put Potato Skins to Shame

Recipe Details

Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe

Active45 mins

Total60 mins

Serves10 potato-skin cups

  • 5 Yukon Gold potatoes, ideally about 5 or 6 ounces (140 to 170g) each (though larger potatoes will also work)

  • Vegetable or canola oil, for greasing the potatoes and deep-frying

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Using a fork or paring knife, puncture potatoes in several spots. Rub each potato with a light coat of oil. Arrange on a rack set on a baking sheet, or directly on an oven rack, and bake until just tender, 30 to 45 minutes. Alternatively, microwave pricked and oiled potatoes until just tender, about 5 minutes.

  2. Let potatoes stand until cool enough to handle, then cut in half across their equators. Using a small spoon, scoop out most of the potato flesh into a medium bowl, leaving a layer of potato flesh roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick still attached to the skin. (It's okay if the layer of potato flesh attached to the skin isn't perfectly even; that unevenness can add some good textural contrast to each cup.) If you want the cups to stand up more easily (i.e., if you're planning to fill the cups before serving, rather than using them as scoops for dips), slice off the very bottom of each one to create a level base. Set potato cups aside.

    Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (3)

  3. Using a blender or immersion blender, process scooped potato flesh into a slurry, adding just enough water to form a purée the consistency of applesauce. (You need only enough potato slurry to lightly coat each scooped potato cup, so you may want to purée only a portion of the scooped flesh and reserve the rest for a small batch of mashed potatoes.)

    Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (4)

  4. Line a rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. In a 5-quart Dutch oven or large wok, heat 2 1/2 inches oil over high heat until it reaches a temperature of 365°F (185°C). Working in batches, dip each scooped potato cup in the potato slurry to coat it inside and out; allow the excess slurry to drain off, then carefully lower each potato cup into the hot oil. Because the slurry is so wet, the frying will be very vigorous, so be careful not to fry more than a few at a time.

    Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (5)

  5. Cook, agitating occasionally with a wire mesh spider, until potatoes just begin to turn lightly golden, about 1 minute. Transfer to paper towel–lined baking sheet, inverting each one, concave side down, to allow it to fully drain. Repeat dipping and frying with remaining potato cups. Using a fine-mesh strainer, skim out any free-floating fried bits of slurry from the oil and discard.

  6. When ready to serve, return oil in Dutch oven or wok to 365°F (185°C). Fry potato cups in batches a second time, agitating them with wire mesh spider, until deeply golden brown and crispy all over, inside and out, about 3 minutes. Transfer cups to fresh paper towels to drain and season them with salt on all sides, then turn them concave side down to fully drain.

    Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (6)

  7. Serve fried potato cups while still hot, with dips or spreads of your choice.

Special equipment

Dutch oven or wok, wire mesh spider, probe or instant-read thermometer, rimmed baking sheet, wire rack (optional), blender or immersion blender

Make-Ahead and Storage

After the first frying step, you can allow the potatoes to fully cool, then refrigerate them overnight or freeze them for up to 2 months before frying a second time from chilled or frozen.

This Recipe Appears In

  • It’s Always Fry-Day: Crispy Potato Cups Put Potato Skins to Shame
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
119Calories
11g Fat
6g Carbs
1g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories119
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g14%
Saturated Fat 1g4%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 97mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 1g2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 3mg13%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 150mg3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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Crispy Deep-Fried Potato-Skin Cups Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my fried potatoes get crispy? ›

This sure sounds a lot like potatoes that have been stored too long, in too cold of an environment before cooking. When potatoes are held below 41°F for too long a period, the starches convert to sugar and it changes the cooking chemistry.

Is eating potato skin good for you? ›

To get the most antioxidants, leave the skins on and choose colorful varieties like red and purple potatoes. The more color, the more antioxidants. Plus, the skin of some potatoes can have up to 12 times more antioxidants than the flesh. Baked potato skin is a great source of potassium and magnesium.

Why are my french fries not turning brown? ›

Enzymatic browning

A good proof for this mechanism being important is that blanching potatoes (quickly boiling them before frying) prevents a lot of browning of fries! Since enzymes are broken down by heat, this heat treatment will prevent any of this browning.

Are potato skins healthy for dogs? ›

It's best to make sure a potato is completely peeled before you feed it to your pet. Potato skins contain oxalates, which can be extremely dangerous for dogs. A dog who has eaten potato skins may experience loose stools, vomiting, depression, fatigue, tremors, seizures, and heart arrhythmia.

What makes fried food more crispy? ›

Use the Right Batter: Using a light batter or tempura mix will help keep your fried foods extra crispy while still sealing in moisture and flavor. Monitor Oil Temperature: Maintaining a consistent temperature when deep-frying is key to achieving a perfect crunch.

What is the best oil for frying potatoes? ›

Long accepted as a standard deep frying oil because of its neutrality, high smoke point, and ready availability (on the bottom oil shelf of most grocery stores), peanut oil is the choice of home fryers as well as chains such as Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

When should you not eat potato skin? ›

Potato skins are generally safe to eat and actually contain beneficial nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, they can also contain trace amounts of natural compounds like solanine and glycoalkaloids, especially in green or sprouted areas, which might be harmful in large quantities.

What are the side effects of potatoes on skin? ›

Rubbing potatoes on your skin or applying potato juice on face way too often can cause itching and irritation of the skin. Women with sensitive skin who are quick to get an allergic reaction must not use potato for the face. Other side effects may include a runny nose, breathing difficulties, and hives.

Are potatoes bad for cholesterol? ›

Potatoes are rich in soluble fibre, which can be consumed by high cholesterol patients without any confusion. Consuming potatoes not only maintains the cholesterol level, but the body also gets many health benefits.

What happens if you don t soak potatoes before making fries? ›

This step is commonly missed in making homemade fries, but it might be one of the most important! Soaking your fries in cold water helps remove excess starch, which allows for crispy, golden fries! The cold water bath also helps the french fries retain their shape and contributes to a fluffy inside.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes for french fries? ›

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

How long to deep fry french fries at 375? ›

Remove potatoes from water and dry thoroughly on paper towels. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Cook potatoes in hot oil until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.

Why can't dogs eat mashed potatoes? ›

Packed with dairy and butter, this dish should never be given to your pup. Mashed potatoes contain large amounts of fat, which are likely to cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset, such as diarrhea or even pancreatitis. Gravy is equally harmful and very high in sodium and fat.

Why can't dogs eat boiled potatoes? ›

Dogs can eat potatoes as long as they are plainly cooked and offered in moderation. Roasted potatoes, prepared without spices or butter are the best way to let your pet have a taste of a delicious spud. But avoid giving your dog raw or boiled potatoes as they're not safe for dogs to eat as they contain solanine.

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Is Eating Popcorn Safe for Dogs? Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

Why are my potatoes soggy after frying? ›

Fries have a very high starch content. When they are cooked at high temperatures, they absorb moisture which gives them their signature crispy exterior. When they are left out to cool, the starches secrete moisture, which eventually makes the fries' crust soggy.

Why are my pan fried potatoes soggy? ›

Pouring cool or room temp oil over the potatoes is a sure fire way to end up with soggy spuds.

How do you keep fried potatoes crispy? ›

Double fry: Fry the potatoes once at a lower temperature (around 325°F/165°C) to cook them through, then fry them a second time at a higher temperature (375°F/190°C) to crisp them up. Drain well: After frying, place the fries on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil. Excess oil can make fries soggy.

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